Filed under: Concept Cars , Hybrid , Paris Motor Show , Crossover , Toyota Last week, Toyota previewed an upcoming concept called the C-HR and promised it would debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show . It didn’t say much more or give us anything beyond a silhouette and the shape of the lights, but here we have the first images of the finalized form. The C-HR envisions a hybrid crossover coupe with angular styling that looks ready to take on the Nissan Juke . It’s far sportier than a RAV4 , and looks closer to how we’d imagine the next-generation Scion FR-S would look like if it were riding on a jacked-up suspension – with some show car elements thrown in for good measure, like a gloating roof, radical lighting and the usual absence of door handles and usable wing mirrors. Of course, this being a Toyota concept, it packs a hybrid powertrain, although specifications did not leak out along with the images. Overall the form looks pretty striking, if decidedly unsubtle. We’ll look forward to bringing you more as the Paris show rapidly approaches. Toyota C-HR hybrid crossover coupe concept leak ahead of Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Sep 2014 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Etc. , Dodge , Mazda , Smart , Subaru , Toyota , Electric , Diesel We all have controversial opinions. Be it whether you think the Nissan Juke is actually pretty attractive, manual transmissions aren’t always better, or you honestly didn’t hate the Pontiac Aztek , we all harbor some persuasion, be it big or small, for which we catch copious flak upon expression. In recognizing that all of us here at Autoblog harbor at least one viewpoint that stubbornly goes against the grain of popular opinion among auto enthusiasts, we’ve decided to come clean with them right here, proudly speaking our minds in a mature, structured manner – a striking contrast to how these things tend to come up while debated in the office. We’d also like to invite you to share your unpopular and controversial opinions with us and the Autoblog faithful down in Comments. Don’t be ashamed – this is a safe place. Continue reading Autoblog editors come clean about their controversial automotive beliefs Autoblog editors come clean about their controversial automotive beliefs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jul 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Hybrid , Technology , Crossover , Toyota Toyota may be hard at work on a new hybrid version of the RAV4 . AutoExpress reports the automaker is keeping a close eye on the CUV segment to determine whether or not buyers would be receptive to the idea of a hybrid RAV4. Yoshikazu Saeki, deputy chief engineer with the automaker, said that a hybrid iteration wouldn’t be difficult to do. Saeki spoke with AutoExpress during the LA Auto Show , and said that while Toyota has no interest in building either a seven-seat version of the RAV4 or a sportier model along the lines of the Nissan Juke , a hybrid isn’t off the table. “We are watching the market,” Saeki said. “After introducing the new RAV4 we will see. There will be a possibility of introducing a hybrid RAV4 and we will respond to what the market wants.” Than again, we’ve heard these rumblings before . Back in 2009, Toyota said almost the exact same thing after the Shanghai Motor Show three years ago. Toyota RAV4 hybrid in development? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:27:00 EST.